TechRadar Verdict
Just Dance VR would have been perfect a few years ago, but the dated track list and the fact that it doesn’t take full advantage of the VR medium leaves me wanting more.
Vibrant stages
Playable on Meta Quest 2
Not motion sickness-inducing
Dated track selection
Doesn’t take full advantage of VR
No mixed reality options
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It’s 2020, the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, and theOculusQuest 2 – an affordable yet capable VR headset – has exploded in popularity because everyone wants to feel like they aren’t trapped inside. Had the virtual reality dancing gameJust Dance VRlaunched in this era of VR gaming I’m confident it would be considered one of thebest VR gamesof the day.
Platform reviewed:Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3SAvailable on:Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 2Release date:October 15, 2024
The immersive 360-degree dance sessions are bursting with color and good vibes. And if you have someone to play with – especially local co-op via pass-and-play – it’s hilarious to watch as you each flail about or fire up your competitive spirit as you aim to demolish the high score they just set.
And if you live alone, you can hop into the multiplayer hub world toJust Dancewith players from anywhere in the world.
But in 2024, the year we’re actually getting thisJust Dance VRport, the game already feels out of date thanks to a setlist of years-old tracks that don’t compete with the 2024 chart toppers found onJust Dance 2025which was also just released. Factor in thatJust Dance VRdoesn’t take full advantage of its 360-VR stages, as well as lacks a mixed reality mode like some other recent VR rhythm games – which makes modern XR titles feel more approachable to newcomers – and I can’t help but feel this title will struggle to find an audience even amongstJust Dancefans.
A Little Just Dance Never Killed Nobody
If you were expecting anything other thanJust Dancebut in VR then you’ll be disappointed. Everyone else can groove along with the series’ signature dancing gameplay.
For the uninitiated, unlikeBeat Saber,Samba de Amigo, or other rhythm games,Just Dance VRisn’t simply about striking poses or smashing blocks to a beat, it’s about following the on-screen coach as best as you can while they take you step by step through an actual dance routine. There’s a track that clues you into what move you’re about to perform, but otherwise, it’s basically a gamified dance lesson.
And the coach isn’t simply in a comfy tracksuit and hoodie like an ‘IRL’ coach, they’re dressed to the nines in thematic outfits that perfectly match the immersive stage they’re performing in or the vibe of the artist they’re performing to – like the rebellious band captain who leads the charge asHollaback Girlblasts through their high schools’ speaker system. Seeing the vibrant splashes of color and slight absurdity of it all, you can’t help but crack a smile while you play throughJust Dance VR’s best levels.
As you progress you’re judged based on the movements of your hands as an estimate for how well you’ve performed the dance as a whole. Though estimate is the keyword here.
My biggest gripe with the dance scoring system is that it feels entirely arbitrary. No matter how poorly I know I’ve performed, I still manage to get at least five stars on pretty much every track because I vaguely wave a hand in the right place. I don’t say this as a flex, I say that because it feels like I’ve been handed a participation trophy.
I know, I know, as a family-friendly game, there’s nothing wrong with Just Dance’s kinder approach to judging dance skill, however for me the inflated scoring system doesn’t encourage me to push for that five-star Superstar rating over several playthroughs. Because my achievements feel undeserved, I instead feel like any further success would feel equally unrewarding.
But these disappointments could be brushed aside if the tracklist featured some amazing music that I could have a blast dancing to.
Wake Me Up when the tracklist’s better
Unfortunately,Just Dance VR’s track selection feels lackluster, and especially dated next to the modern chart-topper-packed setlist ofJust Dance 2025which was also released on October 15.
Where the flat edition offers dances toEspressoby Sabrina Carpenter,Exesby Tate McRae.Lovin’ On Meby Jack Harlow, andYes, and?By Ariana Grande (via DLC) – to name just a selection of its best tracks – the VR version instead boastsBeauty and a Beatby Justin Bieber (Ft. Nicki Minaj),Dark Horseby Katy Perry, andLightsby Ellie Goulding.
I Just Dance VR for pass-and-play, it’s so much fun to watch other people try their best to match the couch’s moves.
That’s not to say some of the VR picks aren’t fantastic – I loveHollaback Girl,Don’t Stop Me Now, andThank u, nextas much as anyone, even in 2024 – andJust Dancegames have pretty much always featured a mix of older or newer songs.
This VR game doesn’t feature that mix, just a lot of older stuff – it’s like opening a pack of Jelly Babies and mostly seeing the colors you aren’t a fan of.
So for people looking to pick up a newJust Dancegame in 2024 this VR entry doesn’t feel like the one they should go for – doubly so when you factor in that many of the best tracks (at least the ones I liked the most) are also playable inJust Dance 2025via theJust Dance Plus subscriptions service.
There is something to enjoy inJust Dance VR. The vibrant forgiving gameplay will definitely appeal to a younger audience – as the series always has – and in terms of VR rhythm games it is somewhat unique in that it’s actively teaching you a full-body dance rather than having you simply smash targets, which could appeal from a VR perspective. It’s just not the bestJust Dancegame to release in 2024; so if you have access to aNintendo Switch,PS5, orXbox Series XorSeries Syou’ll probably be better served byJust Dance 2025which delivers basically identical gameplay with a much wider range of excellent music choices.
Should you play Just Dance VR?
Play it if…
You love silly party gamesJust Dance VRexcels as a pass-and-play title. Throw the live Quest feed up on a TV or stream it to your phone and you’ll have a good laugh playing this with your friends and family.
You want a child-friendly VR gameVibrant colors, accessible controls, and a forgiving scoring system make this an ideal choice for younger VR players.
Don’t play it if…
You have another consoleIf you have a Nintendo Switch, PS5, or Xbox Series X thenJust Dance 2025, which also just released, may be a much better choice given its music selection.
You’re looking for a challengeAs a game,Just Dance VRfeels a lot more forgiving than other rhythm games. There is difficulty in perfectly matching the dance moves, but it’s hard to track your full-body motion in VR to judge yourself, and the in-game scoring system doesn’t seem to mind if you make mistakes.
Accessibility
As VR games go,Just Dance VRis fairly accessible. You do need to be able to stand and have a full range of movement to perform the game’s routines, but it does offer comfort controls like teleportation-style movement for navigating its hub world which should vastly reduce motion sickness compared to smooth analog stick movement.
Dancing in levels can be a tad disorienting so make sure you have a large, clear play space (so you don’t accidentally kick or trip over something). I was a little surprised that this title doesn’t offer a mixed reality mode – like we saw forSamba de Amigo VR– as these blended reality games are typically easier for VR newcomers to get accustomed to, and would reduce the potential of you bumping into a hazard as you dance.
How I reviewed Just Dance VR
My first few play sessions were on my Meta Quest 3, however, when I received the Meta Quest 3S to test for myMeta Quest 3S reviewI swapped to playingJust Dance VRexclusively on that headset. I played through most tracks at least once and explored the hub worlds – Dancity and the Apartment – to try the different mini-games they offered and test the teleportation movement.
I wasn’t able to test the online multiplayer functionality, but my partner and I did a couple of pass-and-play sessions to experience couch co-op (and laugh at how silly we both looked). This almost meant I could get her thoughts on the title as she has a lot more experience with theJust Danceseries than I do.
My Quest 3 was outfitted with theRazer head strap and silicone facial interface, but the Meta Quets 3S I used was exactly as it comes out of the box.
First reviewed October 2024
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.
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